Celebrating the pickle

Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 2:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 2:44 p.m.

Julie Beck has traveled the world – 77 countries on seven continents. But no trip is considered a success if she does not return home to Mount Olive with at least one idea for the next N.C. Pickle Festival.

Facts

IF YOU GO

After all, Beck has chaired the N.C. Pickle Festival in Mount Olive for the past 20 years, mixing down-home fun with worldwide themes.

In the past, she’s returned from her adventures to create the African Pickle Safari or the Australian Pickle Outback Adventure. Most recently, after she returned from a swing through Canada, Beck decided to package all the singing and dancing she found north of the border.

“So the theme this year,” says Beck, “is the Pickle Palooza.”

Getting warmed up, Beck, 50, emphasizes that “there is going to be lots of singing and dancing, with juggling cucumbers and pickles playing the ukulele.”

The 2014 edition of the N.C. Pickle Festival, which was started in 1986, runs April 25-27.

Opening night should entice Wilmington day-trippers: the popular band, 40 East, holds a concert at the Mount Olive airport from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Admission to the concert is $15. Or head to the carnival, which also kicks off Friday night, at 123 N. Center St. You can ride all evening with a $10 wristband.

Some of the main events on Saturday often require the aid of thirst-quenching pickle juice: The Tour de Pickle is a 75-mile bike race through Wayne and Duplin counties; 200 riders participated last year. For runners, there is the Cuke Patch 5K race.

Also on the weekend, you can browse a show of classic cars, watch youngsters try their hands (and faces) at Pickle Art, enjoy the Pickle Idol karaoke contest, marvel at the Circus Stella performance of rescued dogs, and always eat free pickles courtesy of the Mt. Olive Pickle Company.

Beck moved to the Mount Olive area more than 25 years ago, first as an administrator for the Coastal Carolina Council of the Girls Scouts of America, then for two decades as a student activities liaison at Mount Olive College.

She also champions a very heartwarming side to the festival. The Department of Homeland Security recently awarded the festival the rights to hold a Naturalization Ceremony on the Saturday morning of the festival. Last year 60 people became U.S. citizens; the ceremony starts at 9 a.m.

For all her energy and enthusiasm for showing off Mount Olive and its pickles, Beck did draw the line at one potential theme.

“I traveled through Alaska,” Beck remembers, “and they had a moose-droppings scavenger hunt. I thought about it, but just couldn’t figure out how to make something similar work here.”

<p>Julie Beck has traveled the world – 77 countries on seven continents. But no trip is considered a success if she does not return home to Mount Olive with at least one idea for the next N.C. Pickle Festival.</p><p>After all, Beck has chaired the N.C. Pickle Festival in Mount Olive for the past 20 years, mixing down-home fun with worldwide themes. </p><p>In the past, she's returned from her adventures to create the African Pickle Safari or the Australian Pickle Outback Adventure. Most recently, after she returned from a swing through Canada, Beck decided to package all the singing and dancing she found north of the border.</p><p>“So the theme this year,” says Beck, “is the Pickle Palooza.”</p><p>Getting warmed up, Beck, 50, emphasizes that “there is going to be lots of singing and dancing, with juggling cucumbers and pickles playing the ukulele.”</p><p>The 2014 edition of the N.C. Pickle Festival, which was started in 1986, runs April 25-27.</p><p>Opening night should entice Wilmington day-trippers: the popular band, 40 East, holds a concert at the Mount Olive airport from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Admission to the concert is $15. Or head to the carnival, which also kicks off Friday night, at 123 N. Center St. You can ride all evening with a $10 wristband.</p><p>Some of the main events on Saturday often require the aid of thirst-quenching pickle juice: The Tour de Pickle is a 75-mile bike race through Wayne and Duplin counties; 200 riders participated last year. For runners, there is the Cuke Patch 5K race.</p><p>Also on the weekend, you can browse a show of classic cars, watch youngsters try their hands (and faces) at Pickle Art, enjoy the Pickle Idol karaoke contest, marvel at the Circus Stella performance of rescued dogs, and always eat free pickles courtesy of the Mt. Olive Pickle Company.</p><p>Beck moved to the Mount Olive area more than 25 years ago, first as an administrator for the Coastal Carolina Council of the Girls Scouts of America, then for two decades as a student activities liaison at Mount Olive College.</p><p>She also champions a very heartwarming side to the festival. The Department of Homeland Security recently awarded the festival the rights to hold a Naturalization Ceremony on the Saturday morning of the festival. Last year 60 people became U.S. citizens; the ceremony starts at 9 a.m.</p><p>For all her energy and enthusiasm for showing off Mount Olive and its pickles, Beck did draw the line at one potential theme.</p><p>“I traveled through Alaska,” Beck remembers, “and they had a moose-droppings scavenger hunt. I thought about it, but just couldn't figure out how to make something similar work here.”</p>